Biomarkers in medicine最新文献

Aim: To identify the predictive role of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in pulmonary hypertension (PH) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment.Methods: Blood biomarkers have been measured at the cross-section of entrance. The baseline and followed-up echocardiography have been performed at both cross-sections.Results: The incidence of PH was 8.91%. The baseline myoglobin (MYO), was significantly higher among PH patients (p < 0.001). In the univariate regression, body mass index (BMI p = 0.020), left atria end-diastolic internal diameter (LAD, p = 0.083), creatinine (Cr, p = 0.005), triglyceride (TG, p < 0.001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, p = 0.056) and TyG index (p = 0.002) were potential predictors for PH. Finally, the adjusted COX regression indicated that BMI (p = 0.001), LAD (p = 0.030), Cr(p = 0.005) and TyG index (p = 0.002) were independent predictors of the onset of PH.Conclusion: Baseline TyG index, BMI, LAD, Cr level were independent predictors for PH in CAD patients after PCI treatment.

Aim: Explore the optimal cut-off values for plasma nicotine and its metabolites in assessing smoking status and quantify the association between individual tobacco exposure and pulmonary nodules (PNs).Materials & methods: A total of 2245 plasma samples were included for the determination of nicotine (Nic), cotinine (Cot) and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (OHCot) concentrations. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal biomarkers reflecting smoking status. Binary logistic regression, restricted cubic spline and generalized linear model were used to analyze the association of nicotine and its metabolites with PNs. Quantile g-computation was used to investigate the mixed effects between them.Results: Cot was found to be the best biomarker of self-reported active-passive smoking, with optimal thresholds of 9.06 and 1.26 ng/ml, respectively. Except for OHCot, increased concentrations of Cot, Nic, total nicotine equivalent (TNE2) and TNE3 were significantly positively associated with the risk of PNs, whereas nicotine metabolite ratio presented a negative association. The mixed effects of OHCot, Cot and Nic were associated with PNs, with an odds ratio of 1.17 and a 95% CI of 1.05-1.30.Conclusion: Nicotine and its metabolites as potential biomarkers of tobacco exposure were significantly associated with PNs.

Aim: Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is common in severe aortic stenosis (AS). Previous studies revealed N-Acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and Kidney-injury-molecule-1 (KIM-1) as potential markers for CRS. The study aimed to investigate the prognostic capability of NAG, KIM-1, NT-proBNP in severe AS before TAVI.

Materials & methods: Plasma and urine samples were collected from 151 participants before TAVI. Long-term follow-up (median follow-up time 31 months) was conducted to assess all-cause mortality and a composite endpoint of mortality and congestive heart failure.

Results: NT-proBNP was significantly elevated in classical low-flow, low-gradient AS compared to other severe AS phenotypes (p < 0.01), unlike NAG and KIM-1 (each p = n.s.). During follow-up, 40 patients (26.5%) died, and 58 patients (38.4%) reached the composite endpoint. Elevated baseline levels of NAG and KIM-1 were associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in Kaplan-Meier analysis, like NT-proBNP (each p<0.05). NAG and STS-Score were revealed as significant predictors for all-cause mortality in multivariable COX-regression analysis (each p<0.05), unlike NT-proBNP, KIM-1, eGFR, and clinical parameters (each p=n.s.).

Conclusion: Baseline NAG and, to a lesser degree, KIM-1 and NT-proBNP provide significant predictive value for all-cause mortality in patients with severe AS before TAVI.

Aim: Recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (UGMWA) was a critical issue. Therefore, it is significant to identify the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in recurrence.Materials & methods: HCC patients receiving UGMWA were divided into recurrence and no-recurrence groups. The preoperative and postoperative risk factors were compared between these two groups.Results: Preoperative and postoperative serum levels of HIF-1α, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were closely associated with the recurrence of HCC. Serum HIF-1α level was increased, while serum levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were decreased in HCC patients with recurrence.Conclusion: HIF-1α, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were associated with and predicted the recurrence of HCC after UGMWA, respectively or in combination.

Aim: Anemia of inflammation (AI) is common among patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). This study aimed to investigate the specific relationship between inflammation indicators and anemia in patients with DFU.Materials & methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among patients with DFU between 2018 and 2023. Clinical data were gathered before treatment. Restricted cubic spline regression was employed to investigate the non-linear associations between inflammation and anemia.Results: A total of 395 patients with Wagner grades 2-4 were enrolled in the study. About 63.54% of the patients with DFU had anemia which was primarily presented with normocytic hypopigmentation anemia. Elevated IL-6 levels (39.10-369 pg/ml) were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of anemia (OR = 4.84; 95% CI: 1.97-11.90). Similarly, high CRP levels (48.56-385 mg/l) were linked to a higher prevalence of anemia (OR = 5.01; 95% CI: 2.35-10.68). Furthermore, a nonlinear relationship was observed between CRP levels and anemia, suggesting that CRP values exceeding 53.889 mg/l may trigger anemia in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.Conclusion: Inflammation is identified as an independent risk factor for AI in patients with DFU. The inflammation indicators (CRP and IL-6) and anemia exhibit an L-shaped nonlinear correlation in patients with DFU.

Aim: Inflammatory prognostic index (IPI), has been shown to be related with poor outcomes in cancer patients. We aimed to investigate the predictive role of IPI for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) development in non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction patients using a nomogram and performing machine learning (ML) algorithms.Materials & methods: A total of 178 patients with CIN (+) and 1511 with CIN (-) were included.Results: CIN (+) patients had higher IPI levels, and IPI was independently associated with CIN. A risk prediction nomogram including IPI had a higher predictive ability and good calibration. Naive Bayes and k-nearest neighbors were the best ML algorithms for the prediction of CIN patients.Conclusion: IPI might be used as an easily obtainable marker for CIN prediction using ML algorithms.

Aim: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers. Research in various cancers suggests that investigating target biomarkers may provide directions to precision medicine. However, expression of biomarkers varies across different populations. The biomarker profile of Pakistani patients with PDAC remains unexplored.Materials & methods: We conducted a study on 109 patients to analyze a panel of four proteins (KRAS, p53, BRCA1 and APC) using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples. After confirmation of diagnosis and appropriate tumor content, tissues were processed with antibody specific immunohistochemistry experiments. Subsequently, independent microscopic observation was conducted by two pathologists using scoring criteria specific for each antibody.Results: Statistical analysis showed that negative expression of p53 was significantly associated with positive expression of BRCA1 (p = 0.000) and APC (p = 0.007). The expression of BRCA1 was also found significantly associated with APC (p = 0.028). None of the protein showed association with overall survival or patient demographics. Moreover, KRAS expression was shown to be significantly associated with perineural invasion (p = 0.005).Conclusion: This is the first study that investigates protein biomarker expression in a large cohort of Pakistani PDAC patients. The findings from the study may provide directions about the population specific biomarkers and targeted therapies for these patients.

Aim: Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is obtained by multiplying the platelets by the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes. We aimed to examine the relationship between contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) development and SII in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients.Methods: 1124 NSTEMI patients included and divided into two groups according to the development of CIN. The relationship between SII and CIN development was examined.Results: Among two groups, significant differences were observed in terms of age, chronic renal failure, presence of critical stenoses in the LAD, SII and C-reactive protein (CRP). It was calculated that a value of 709 and above for SII had a predictive power with 74% sensitivity and 74% specificity for CIN.Conclusion: SII has the potential to predict the development of CIN in NSTEMI patients.

Aim: Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP), plays a part in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, it is not yet known how WTAP affects cancer progression by influencing leukocyte rich repeat containing proteins (NLR) - family members 3 (NLRP3) - related inflammasomes.Materials & methods: We first validated the expression of WTAP in CRC at the tissue and cellular levels. Subsequently, by transfecting si-NC and si-WTAP into cells, we verified functions of WTAP in proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of CRC cells. Finally, we analyzed the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of NLRP3 by WTAP using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-qPCR technology, confirming that WTAP mediated the repression of NLRP3 inflammasome and the malignant progression of tumor cells.Results: WTAP was substantially upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. WTAP reinforced the migration, proliferation and invasion ability of CRC cells, and repressed apoptosis. Mechanistically, WTAP mediated the m6A modification of NLRP3, which suppressed the expression of NLRP3 and dampened the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD axis activation as well as pyroptosis, thereby facilitating the malignant progression of CRC.Conclusion: WTAP mediates m6A modification to modulate the repression of the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD axis in pyroptosis, reinforcing the malignant progression of CRC.

Epithelial membrane protein 1 (EMP1) is a member of the small hydrophobic membrane protein subfamily. EMP1 is aberrantly expressed in various tumor tissues and governs multiple cellular behaviors (e.g., proliferation, differentiation, and migration). The resultant regulation of the cancer pathway is responsible for the metastasis of cancer cells and determines the risk of malignant tumor progression. This review provides an updated overview of EMP1 as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor contingent on the cancer type and summarizes its upstream regulators and downstream target genes. This systematic review summarizes our current understanding of the role of EMP1 in malignant tumor development, including critical functional mechanisms and implications for its potential use as the biomarker and therapeutic target.